Opinion: It isn't enough to say that racism exists

Dwight Tillery led hundreds of Black Agenda Cincinnati members to a special meeting of the City Council Budget and Finance Committee Monday night at the Community Action Agency in Bond Hill.(Photo: The Enquirer/Cameron Knight)

Enquirer Opinion Editor Kevin S. Aldridge wrote an op-ed on Dec. 12 ("Racism study a waste of tax money") that demonstrated by the very first paragraph that he knew nothing about the motion that City Council passed two years ago to study Institutional racism in our city government.

A study of the council's public policies and practices can be distinguished from many studies on "racial inequality," as no other organization – other than governments – has the power of law behind its policies and practices. In fact, no other organization has the reach that governments have nor the same accountability to the public.

Aldridge starts off by saying, "Cincinnati – heck, America for that matter – has a problem with racial inequality. Spending six figures on a study to tell us that which we already know would be nothing short of a colossal waste of taxpayers' money." He goes on with generalities and cites studies that have nothing to do with studying what those "racial inequalities" are, specifically in city government.

If Aldridge had taken the time to read the motion passed by City Council two years ago, he might have written his article with better knowledge as to why institutional racism in city government is different. For example, the motion reads in part "Institutional racism leads to inequality of opportunity. Sociologists use the concept of institutional racism to explain why some groups of people face persistent, systemic, and structural economic, political and social suppressions…" The motion goes on to state "All citizens, irrespective of race, should be treated fairly, but studies show that this is not the case. Too often government policies and practices create some of the fundamental basis for inequity…."

Aldridge might be surprised to know that not too many governments have taken on the obligation of studying how they operate in regards to institutional racism. But this is where the rubber meets the road and where politicians and public administrators can truly be held accountable for its practices and opportunities for true inclusion in all aspects of governmental operations.

Aldridge is right on one thing, there are many studies that talk about racial inequities and racism in our society in general, but most don’t give the assessment as to how these inequities came into being. They haven’t studied the public policies and practices of government which have been the primary perpetrator of racial practices and created systemic disadvantages to minority groups.

Just as our city had two Croson studies (economic studies regarding city contracting practices), those studies demonstrated that the government was more likely than not discriminating against black entrepreneurs. The studies showed where the problems were and, therefore, gave the city an opportunity to correct its practices, which disadvantaged black businesses whether intentional or unintentional.

While I agree that racial discrimination does exist in our city and the nation in all facets of life, nothing is more egregious than to have your own government be the leader in many cases causing blacks to lag significantly behind in many aspects of city life.

It isn't enough to say that racism exists in our city and country, but rather we should be outraged to know that our own government is the fundamental catalyst in far too many instances. And if we clearly identify those public policies and practices that lead to disparity for blacks in this city, we can correct them based on this study and improve the outcomes by creating opportunities that can fundamentally change the playing field.

Dwight Tillery is the convener of Black Agenda Cincinnati. He is also a former mayor of Cincinnati and founder and retired CEO of the Center for Closing the Health Gap.

Former Cincinnati Mayor Dwight Tillery, CEO of the Center for Closing the Health Gap.(Photo: Enquirer file)